ON THIS PAGE: You will find some basic information about this disease and the parts of the body it may affect. This is the first page of Cancer.Net’s Guide to Childhood Central Nervous System Tumor. To see other pages, use the menu. Think of that menu as a roadmap to this full guide.

A central nervous system (CNS) tumor begins when healthy cells in the brain or the spinal cord change and grow out of control, forming a mass. A tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor means the tumor can grow but will not spread.

A CNS tumor is especially problematic because a person’s thought processes and movements can be affected. This type of tumor also may be challenging to treat because the tissues around the tumor may be vital to the body’s functioning.

The brain is the center of thought, memory, and emotion. It controls the 5 senses, which include smell, touch, taste, hearing, and sight. It also controls movement and other basic functions of the body, including heartbeat, circulation, and breathing. The spinal cord consists of nerves that carry information back and forth between the body and the brain.

Anatomy of the brain

The brain is made up of 4 major parts: the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, and meninges.

The cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, contains 2 cerebral hemispheres and is divided into 4 lobes where specific functions occur.

The parietal lobe controls the sensations of touch, pressure, pain, and temperature

The temporal lobe controls memory and the sense of hearing

The occipital lobe controls vision

The cerebellum, or "little brain," is located underneath the cerebrum. The cerebellum controls coordination and balance.

The brain stem, which is the lowest portion of the brain and connects to the spinal cord, controls involuntary functions essential for life, such as a person’s heartbeat and breathing.

The meninges are the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. There are 3 meningeal layers, called the dura mater, arachnoid, and pia arachnoid.

Types of CNS tumors

There are many different types of CNS tumors. Some are cancerous and very likely to grow and spread. These are often called very aggressive or high grade. There are also less aggressive types, often called low grade. And, some types are noncancerous and not likely to grow and spread. The following types of CNS tumors are most common among children:

The next section in this guide is Statistics[13]. It helps explain how many people are diagnosed with this disease and general survival rates. Or, use the menu to choose another section to continue reading this guide.